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Ross Barkley

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His strength is obviously getting the ball, head down and just belt at the defence. I love it when he gets the ball near the half way line and just goes, he often drags 2/3 players towards him to try and stop him which leaves him/teammates space to exploit. Once he learns how/when to exploit that space, which I think comes with experience, he'll tear teams apart.

It's not always about the direct assist. As we've seen with pienaar, to assist the assister can be just as important.
 
His strength is obviously getting the ball, head down and just belt at the defence. I love it when he gets the ball near the half way line and just goes, he often drags 2/3 players towards him to try and stop him which leaves him/teammates space to exploit. Once he learns how/when to exploit that space, which I think comes with experience, he'll tear teams apart.

It's not always about the direct assist. As we've seen with pienaar, to assist the assister can be just as important.
players with that level of natural ability do take time to develop in that regard, the same accusations were thrown at ronaldo, it can possibly be a bit easy for these lads in youth football, and the realisation they have to do more with the ball comes later as the realities of top level football kick in, plenty saw zidane as a luxury until he was about 25
 
Yesterday he held his own, against a midfield who were bought from between 19-28 million pounds all of whom are in their prime.

While we would all love Ross to dominate such a midfield it isn't always that simple but as a young player he didn't look out of place which is a step in the right direction. He showed more responsibility too yesterday. One of my favourite moments of the match was when he dribbled the ball at a defender, from his own half into their final third. He was chased by Rooney throughout who would have liked nothing more than to hammer him and get the ball back. Ross was in 3rd gear while Rooney sprinted after him, and shielded the ball at ease. When he realised nothing was on, he turned both players, cut back and made an "a to b pass". It has often been that final part of the equation he has been missing in his game, ie when nothing is on "recycling" possession. It was a small bit of play but very impressive.

There will be those who want him to dominate such midfields. He may well do in time, but it's a big ask. The Manchester United midfield got the better of Fabregas last week. I think over the next 12 months that's his natural evolution as he's a far more gifted player than the others out there. Few players could have completed the faze of play I described above. He is not dominating the midfield in that way yet. But lets not make out he is a liability either. He is holding his own and impacting upon the game. For a 21 year old that outs him in a very elite market of players who can do that.
 

As an outsider looking in. He's got the tools to hold his own against any midfield in the land. There is the accusation of holding on to the ball a bit too long but that comes with time and maturity. I fully expect him to be an international regular when they realise Henderson isn't the answer.
 
Still looked a bit lost yesterday, but I think he's slowly but surely getting there.

I remember predicting he'd score 10+ plus goals this season, maybe next year.
 
players with that level of natural ability do take time to develop in that regard, the same accusations were thrown at ronaldo, it can possibly be a bit easy for these lads in youth football, and the realisation they have to do more with the ball comes later as the realities of top level football kick in, plenty saw zidane as a luxury until he was about 25

Fun fact - Newcastle turned down Zidane when he was 24 as he "wasn't good enough for the prem".
 

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